Apple will focus tomorrow’s NYC event on digital textbook publishing tools and talk about tools that will make publishing interactive textbooks and other digital educational content a lot easier. Bloomberg found this out by two anonymous sources that weren’t authorized to speak about the event and its focus publicly. Bloomberg’s article reveals that the sources mentioned that Apple’s plans are “re aimed at broadening the educational materials available for the iPad, especially for students in kindergarten to 12th grade.”

By focusing more on the educational values of the tablet, Apple hopes to get a piece of the pie of the $10-billion-a-year textbook industry. It always wants to encourage students to use tablets instead of heavy books that can often be very expensive and to switch over to digital books that can be updated anywhere via the Web. Apple’s new software is supposed to be designed for authors to be able to easily publish their content in a digital format, similar to what Amazon.com does with its direct publishing tools, the sources also told Bloomberg. The event goes down tomorrow at 10AM Eastern.

Amazon’s Kindle 2 is now available for purchase at Amazon.com. It’ll cost you $359 smackaroos, but it’ll probably be worth it for you avid readers with a gadget fetish.

In case you’ve been living in cave for the past few months here are the technical specs of the new Kindle:

• Display: 6″ diagonal E-Ink electronic paper display, 600 x 800 pixel resolution at 167 ppi, 16-level gray scale.
• Size (in inches): 8″ x 5.3″ x 0.36″.
• Weight: 10.2 ounces.
• System requirements: None, because it doesn’t require a computer.
• Storage: 2GB internal (approximately 1.4GB available for user content).
• Battery Life: Read on a single charge for up to 4 days with wireless on. Turn wireless off and read for up to two weeks. Battery life will vary based on wireless usage, such as shopping the Kindle Store and downloading content. In low coverage areas or in 1xRTT only coverage, wireless usage will consume battery power more quickly.
• Charge Time: Fully charges in approximately 4 hours and supports charging from your computer via the included USB 2.0 cable.
• Connectivity: EVDO modem with fallback to 1xRTT; utilizes Amazon Whispernet to provide U.S wireless coverage via Sprint’s 3G high-speed data network. Check our wireless coverage map for availability. This expanded coverage is only available for Kindle 2. See Wireless Terms and Conditions.
• USB Port: USB 2.0 (micro-B connector) for connection to the Kindle power adapter or optionally to connect to a PC or Macintosh computer.
• Audio: 3.5mm stereo audio jack, rear-mounted stereo speakers.
• Content Formats Supported: Kindle (AZW), TXT, Audible (formats 4, Audible Enhanced (AAX)), MP3, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; PDF, HTML, DOC, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion.
• Included Accessories: Power adapter, USB 2.0 cable, rechargeable battery. Book cover sold separately.
• Documentation: Quick Start Guide (included in box) [PDF]; Kindle 2 User’s Guide (pre-installed on device) [PDF].
• Warranty and Service: 1 year limited warranty and service included. Optional 2 year Extended Warranty sold separately.

[LazyWallet]

The OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) XO laptop program relaunched for the second time with Amazon.com taking care of the ordering and distribution. As of now you can order the amazing XO laptop through the Give 1, Get 1 program for $399 or choose to give one for $199.

I must say that the XO laptop is an amazing piece of machinery with its built in Wi-Fi, rugged exterior case, color/black screen readable in direct sunlight, ultra-low 4 watt power consumption, and the ability to charge using solar power.

It’s crammed with fun, educational programs designed to change a kid’s perspective of the world. But why give them a laptop when they have no food? Couldn’t have put it better myself:

Why give a laptop to a child who has no running water? If you replace the word “laptop” with “education” the answer becomes clear. You don’t wait to educate until all other challenges are resolved. You educate at the same time because it’s such an important part of all other solutions.

[Computerworld]